Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 84 – Disaster in Lannister
A piercing alarm blared through the mega-city, but it wasn’t Yan City. It was Lannister, five lifeline jumps away.
As a trading hub between the eastern and western continents, Lannister hadn’t heard such an alarm in centuries.
Generations had never experienced such alerts, commonplace in Yan City, so many Lannister citizens were confused.
Ordinary disasters weren’t a threat to the powerful Lannister. Even “Peril” level disasters, requiring Yan City’s full attention and even the Ice Coffin Weapon, were merely considered troublesome incidents in Lannister.
As for Dawn… even with all their forces, they couldn’t reach Lannister’s Ember Furnace cluster.
Lannister, a rival to Noah’s position as leader of the Free Federation, was incredibly powerful.
But… even the strongest, when facing a Primordial Demon’s descent, were just as vulnerable as Yan City.
A “Cataclysm” level disaster threatened all of humanity.
After several minutes of confusion, Lannister’s bloated bureaucracy finally identified the cause of the alarm and issued a recall order to all ability users on missions, including the elite team assisting in Yan City.
And after syncing information, Lannister realized, with despair, that this likely meant Yan City had lost its battle against the Witch of Envy.
The Witch had triumphed and was descending upon the real world.
And unfortunately, not upon Yan City, but upon Lannister.
Was it because Lannister was at the center of the world?
Or because… it was the most populous mega-city, filled with the sustenance she needed?
No one knew, but she had chosen this place.
After several minutes of the blaring alarm, even the most oblivious citizens understood.
Panic spread, and rumors of an impending “Cataclysm” level disaster, even a second “Calamity Tide” starting from Lannister, ran rampant.
Driven by fear, masses of people tried to flee, the lifelines overflowing, even some high-ranking officials boarded private lifelines, heading towards “Noah” for refuge.
Lannister, several times larger than Yan City, couldn’t maintain order like Yan City in the face of such an unstoppable disaster.
And lacking experience with such threats, Lannister descended into chaos.
However, Lannister was far more powerful and resourceful than Yan City.
Although some officials panicked and fled, most remained calm.
An emergency disaster response committee was quickly formed and began to address the situation.
Twenty minutes after the alarm, the first investigation team was dispatched to the location where the “Witch of Envy’s” aura had been detected.
Lannister also issued a call to arms, offering substantial rewards to any ability user willing to participate.
Even “Difficulty” level ability users would be handsomely compensated, although it wasn’t recommended.
As for Yan City, upon receiving this news… they suddenly found themselves… irrelevant.
Who would have thought that the battle in the void would end like this?
Although it felt wrong to say it, this was good news for the battered Yan City.
The reinforcements from other mega-cities began to return, even the Holy Knights, including Elise, departed for Lannister.
The bustling Yan City quickly quieted down, countless figures clearing the debris, the reconstruction efforts beginning.
Sun Biwu, rescued by Luo Yan, was hospitalized, but having been forcibly separated from the burning spiritual energy, he had lost his “Peril” level abilities.
But the good news was that he would live longer.
Lin Cheng, with less severe injuries, continued to work.
Li Ping’s condition wasn’t good. He wasn’t like the young Qin Wen, who could quickly recover from serious injuries.
His overexertion, combined with his age, and his continued efforts to direct the defense, had taken their toll. He was now hospitalized, in a similar condition to Hua Qiling.
Qin Wen’s condition had stabilized, the immediate danger to her life averted, but her mind and soul remained dormant.
The Sword Saint Sect Master, upon learning of this, had been silent for a long time, not exploding in anger as Lin Cheng and Li Ping had expected.
He had simply acknowledged the news, then hung up.
No one knew what the old man, who had weathered countless storms, truly felt, learning of his beloved daughter’s fate.
The only one whose condition improved was Hua Qiling, the first to be hospitalized. She had regained consciousness and could even sit up.
After all, her injuries were only from overuse of her ability and mental exhaustion.
Although normally considered serious, compared to the others, she was relatively fine.
Hua Qiling remained silent, having learned of everything that had happened while she was unconscious.
…Including the news of Luo Yan’s defeat.
The “Witch of Envy’s” aura had been detected in Lannister, which meant that the battle in the void… had been lost.
She… was dead.
“Miss Luo Yan… is dead…?”
Hua Qiling looked out the window at the bright sunlight, murmuring in disbelief.
She could still smell Luo Yan’s scent, lingering from before she lost consciousness.
They had promised…
Why…?
Hua Qiling wanted to cry, but she couldn’t.
More than sorrow, she felt confusion and disbelief.
When she had lost consciousness, Miss Luo Yan had been by her side.
And when she awoke, she learned of her death.
“Could it be… that the ‘Witch of Envy’ detected in Lannister… is actually Miss Luo Yan…?”
This absurd thought crossed Hua Qiling’s mind, and she clung to it.
…A sliver of hope, however unlikely.
Hua Qiling closed her eyes; she was tired again.
…
Near Lannister.
The “Witch of Envy” hadn’t descended within Lannister itself, but in a forest about ten kilometers away.
Of course, for a “Cataclysm” level disaster, this distance made little difference.
But it was still good news.
The Witch of Envy was a Primordial Demon, a conceptual being beyond human comprehension.
Even the unintentional whispers of a Primordial Demon, with their overwhelming information, could shatter a person’s worldview.
This was why Devil’s minions were often so twisted.
Let alone… looking directly upon Her form.
During the war against the “Witch of Absolute Death” centuries ago, many ability users hadn’t been killed by the Witch, but had committed suicide.
Witnessing her form, the embodiment of despair and death, those with weaker wills had simply ended their own lives.
Because compared to what they felt, death was a mercy.
Therefore, Lannister was grateful that the Witch of Envy hadn’t descended within the city itself; otherwise, the initial casualties would have been catastrophic.
However, they couldn’t ignore the nearby threat; dispatching an investigation team was imperative.
A team composed entirely of “Peril” level ability users, even led by an elderly “Destruction” level ability user, was dispatched.
If Dawn’s assault on Yan City, with its ten elite teams, was considered a formidable force, then Lannister’s investigation team was simply extravagant.
Lannister might not have enough “Peril” level ability users of its own, but they had money.
Compared to Yan City, Lannister had an abundance of resources.
With enough money, even the most dangerous missions would attract volunteers.
Two-thirds of this thirty-two-member team were “Peril” level ability users hired for the job.
The “Destruction” level ability user, however, was one of Lannister’s own, although persuading her to participate had required not only money, but also other… incentives.
An ordinary-looking, elderly woman, her hands clasped behind her back, walked among the team, the others treating her with the utmost respect.
She was the “Destruction” level ability user leading the team.
—Grandma Zoya.
A mind-related ability user, the most suitable type to confront the Witch of Envy.
And beside this hunched figure, a slightly smaller woman stood guard.
Judging from her appearance and demeanor, she was a refined, mature woman, but her figure, except for a certain prominent feature, was more like a young girl’s.
…If anyone from Yan City were here, they would recognize her instantly.
Hua Qiling’s sister, Hua Qingling.
She wasn’t Grandma Zoya’s personal guard, just assigned to protect her within the team.
When the incident in Yan City occurred, Hua Qingling had been far away.
And unlike the Holy Knights, she couldn’t commandeer the high-efficiency teleportation arrays along the way. Civilian arrays were slow and incredibly expensive.
And Dawn, when launching their attack, hadn’t been reckless. They had calculated Yan City’s reinforcement speed.
Rhine, having orchestrated the destruction of Colonna, wouldn’t make such a basic mistake and allow himself to be surrounded.
His relentless push in the latter half of the battle had been because he knew Yan City’s reinforcements were arriving.
Therefore, no matter what, Hua Qingling wouldn’t have arrived in time.
But she still had to try.
After spending a fortune and almost depleting her savings, she finally reached Lannister, only four or five hours away from Yan City, when she received the news.
The war was over.
Hua Qingling: “…”
She felt a strange mix of emotions, neither happy nor sad.
It was rare for a war to end in less than a day…
But then, news of the Witch of Envy’s descent upon Lannister arrived.
So, Hua Qingling, happening to be in Lannister, signed up for the investigation mission.
And the reward was substantial, enough to cover the costs of her frantic journey.
As one of the few women in the team, and with her relatively approachable demeanor (perhaps Grandma Zoya saw her as a granddaughter), Hua Qingling was assigned to what was considered the safest position.
…Everyone knew that if even Grandma Zoya couldn’t handle the situation, no one could.
Grandma Zoya might be old, but she was still incredibly powerful.
Of the thirty-two “Peril” level ability users in the team, she could probably take down half of them in an instant.
Mind-related ability users might not have an advantage against those of the same level, but against weaker opponents…
“Heh, the Hua girl, a wind manipulator… even I’ve heard of you,” Grandma Zoya chuckled. “And you have a title, ‘Wind God’s Favor,’ or something, right?”
“…Just some exaggerated rumors,” Hua Qingling replied respectfully.
“Peril” level ability users weren’t exactly common, but there were quite a few. For someone like Hua Qingling to be known even to figures like Old Man Sword and Grandma Zoya, she was clearly exceptional.
Because she was young.
A “Peril” level ability user in her early thirties meant her physical condition was still equivalent to a teenager’s; reaching “Destruction” level was almost guaranteed.
“Destruction” level ability users were incredibly rare.
To allow Hua Qingling room to grow, Yan City had Sun Biwu forcibly ascend to “Peril” level to protect the city, freeing Hua Qingling to train elsewhere.
If she were bound to Yan City, reaching “Destruction” level would be a pipe dream.
“Are you married?”
Grandma Zoya’s wrinkled eyes opened slightly, looking at Hua Qingling with interest.
This was a future “Destruction” level ability user; investing in her now… wouldn’t hurt.
But Hua Qingling wasn’t new to this. Many had tried to recruit her over the years, even “Destruction” level ability users.
Grandma Zoya wasn’t the first, and she wouldn’t be the last.
However… Hua Qingling’s heart belonged to Yan City. She was a Yan City native, even if it was less developed than any other place she had been to.
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